The Daily Auto Insider
Tuesday, February 10, 2004
February 2004

Mazda plans to launch an "upmarket" sport utility vehicle in North America in 2006, Reuters reported, citing a story in Japan's Nihon Keizai newspaper.

The paper said the SUV would be based on the Mazda6/Atenza sedan, use a 3,000cc to 3,500cc engine made by Ford, which owns one-third of Mazda, and be priced between $30,000 and $40,000.

Mazda would aim for annual sales of 50,000 units.

A spokesman said the company had no comment, but stopped short of denying the report, the story said.

http://www.caranddriver.com/article....rticle_id=7820

This is not going to be a clone of the Ford Freestyle, which is based on the Ford Five Hundred/Mercury Montego sedan platform (itself being derived from but not a copy of the Volvo S80). I've seen the Freestyle in person and it's about the size of a Pontiac Aztek or Buick Rendezvous. I'm guessing this Mazda6-based SUV will be more in line with say, the Nissan Murano, Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, etc.

 

I think it will be interesting to see how Mazda approaches this market... are they going to go SUV like the Pilot or more 'Tourer' like the Pacifica?. Ford is working on a 3.5l Duratec for the Montego/Freestyle/Five Hundred so that is probably the engine being referenced.

I must comment though, those prices seem pretty high. The Murano, Pilot, Highlander, Freestyle, and Endevour all start below 30k. Chrysler, which has more luxury conotation than Mazda, is even struggling to sell in that price range. Hopefully the article is off a bit.

 

I bet Mercury will get a variant version of one of these though.


BTW, the Honda Pilot is pretty big inside. Bigger than the Highlander and Murano.

 

Mercury is getting a version of the Ford Freestyle, which is based on the Ford Five Hundred/Mercury Montego sedan platform.

I'm pretty sure if Mazda uses Ford-derived V6 engines for this upcoming model, they will be off-the-shelf Duratec units. For example, the Mazda 6s has a Ford Duratec 3.0 liter block but with Mazda heads which include a cam-phasing type variable valve timing system. If Ford is working on a 3.5 liter Duratec my guess is Mazda will employ a similar head design to differentiate its version of the motor from Ford.

 

using a ford engine is stupid... :no:

 

Okay, read what I just posted. Mazda uses Ford blocks and puts their own heads on top.

 

so a ford block with a ford tranny... BAD idea

 

Lets just hope its not a rebadged Ford Explorer.

 

Wrong again. The Mazda 6s uses a Mazda 5-speed automatic transmission or 5-speed manual. The Taurus with which it shares its block only offers a 4-speed automatic.

The only thing sourced from Ford is the block.

 

mazda doesn't make great trannies...i'm coming to the conclusion they are designed to last until the warranty expires